I first heard of Jordan Smoller's book, The Other Side of Normal, from a colleague of my who is a devoted Diane Rehm show listener.
Studying disability myself I am putting this book on my summer to reading list. Coming from a more social and cultural perspective on disability and normalization I always say to myself there is no such thing as normal. Smoller suggests that we need to focus on normal in order to know what is abnormal behavior.
I look forward to reading this book because I hope it will expand my knowledge about the biological side of behavior. However, as one of the callers to the Diane Rehm show mentioned: what about culture? (http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/201...-) Culture is so dynamic. Its not just what people carry with them, its also what they create. We are all creators of culture. Often time issues of power, history and culture are not taken into account when issues of mental health are talked about.
What is normal to you? How have you grappled with the notion of normal? How does it effect your relationship with yourself and others?
Studying disability myself I am putting this book on my summer to reading list. Coming from a more social and cultural perspective on disability and normalization I always say to myself there is no such thing as normal. Smoller suggests that we need to focus on normal in order to know what is abnormal behavior.
I look forward to reading this book because I hope it will expand my knowledge about the biological side of behavior. However, as one of the callers to the Diane Rehm show mentioned: what about culture?
(http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/201...-)
Culture is so dynamic. Its not just what people carry with them, its also what they create. We are all creators of culture. Often time issues of power, history and culture are not taken into account when issues of mental health are talked about.
What is normal to you? How have you grappled with the notion of normal? How does it effect your relationship with yourself and others?
Happy and Critical Reading! David